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Club and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation provide unique sporting opportunity to young people from China through Jaguar China-UK Football & Cultural Exchange

Posted on 8 November 2016
- 14:04

Representatives from the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Jaguar Land Rover China and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, including our former captain and England international Ledley King, today (Tuesday, November 8) teamed up to launch the third Jaguar China-UK Football & Cultural Exchange, which is seeking to strengthen ties between British and Chinese children through a shared passion for football.

During the exchange 40 children, including some from underprivileged areas of China, embark on an intensive week of coaching at our world-class training centre in Enfield, working with authentic coaches from our renowned Academy to improve their English language abilities and learn about the philosophy that makes the Club a leader when it comes to developing young players such as Harry Kane and Danny Rose.

The children will also engage in cultural exchange and play a friendly match against British students, during which they will have the opportunity to cultivate new international friendships and bring the football skills they have learned to the fore.

Richard Shore, Acting Regional President Jaguar Land Rover Greater China, said: “As well as the unforgettable experience of training at Tottenham Hotspur, the Jaguar China-UK Football & Cultural Exchange will provide a platform for these Chinese children to learn valuable skills, expand their horizons and forge new friendships with their British counterparts through a mutual love of football. This exchange underscores Jaguar Land Rover China’s commitment to creating opportunities for children through our Dream Fund CSR programmes and building bridges between the UK and China.”

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur and Trustee of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: “Tottenham Hotspur is delighted to once again team up with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Jaguar Land Rover to support youth football development in China. We have a proud tradition of developing the stars of the future and understand how crucial it is that young talent is given the opportunity to learn and flourish. By working with international partners and through exchange programmes like this one, we will continue to develop the game at grassroots level across the world.”

Ledley King, Club Ambassador, added: “We are excited to be hosting the students at the Club for the coming week and I am sure they are looking forward to a series of valuable football and cultural experiences. I have travelled to China a number of times with Tottenham Hotspur and have witnessed the passion for football – this programme provides opportunities to improve the sport in the region using the Club’s expertise in developing players.”

September saw the launch of the Jaguar Football Campus Guangzhou, delivered by Tottenham Hotspur; a year-long programme underneath the Jaguar Land Rover China Children & Youth Dream Fund which will provide 42 PE teachers from 42 primary and secondary schools in the city with elite-level coaching. Members of our Global Coaching Team will visit Guangzhou three times over the next year to provide the teachers with the coaching skills, drills and techniques they need to deliver high-class football training to more than 8,000 children.